the couple can shield $40,900, including education fund assets like 529 plans. if parents have more than that, the surplus is assessed at a rate of 5.64%. so, again, if our parents saved $60,000 for college, their expected contribution for a year of college is about $1100. what's the lesson here? saving sixty grand might have meant they missed out on loans or financial support, they didn't really get whacked that hard for saving it. i want to underscore saving for college is important. it's hard to qualify for aid, loans are expensive. on moneywatch.com we have everything you need to know about college loans, the landscape is changing, kids graduating with debt, almost a trillion dollars in education debt right now. >> when in doubt, give it a try. if you get denied, you get denied. >> reporter: just filling out the form increases the likelihood you'll get it. you know the answer if you don't fill it out. >> thank you, jill. >> 5:49. >>> the rain will make a return to the bay area, not today though. high clouds streaming across the skies. we'll see more as we he